TO HELP micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) cut shipment losses and deliver products in sale-ready condition, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI and FAST Logistics Group teamed up to train entrepreneurs on smart packaging and cargo protection ahead of major trade activities.
DTI and FAST held a virtual learning session on Thursday, February 26, where participants were guided on packaging techniques designed to protect products in transit—especially for MSMEs shipping to trade shows outside Mindanao.
Over 70 participants from across Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental joined the session.
DTI XI regional director Romeo L. Castañaga underscored that partnerships with leading private-sector players are essential to making MSME support more practical, results-driven, and responsive to real market conditions.
“Initiatives like this learning session demonstrate that we are pursuing collaborations that directly strengthen entrepreneurs’ capabilities and market readiness. Our mandate is to empower entrepreneurs, and we intend to deliver that with programs that prepare them for growth,” he said.
DTI XI business development and promotions chief Arriel Nengasca said the session responds to common challenges MSMEs face when joining trade activities outside the region.
“Packaging may seem simple, but it can make or break a product once it’s in transit,” Nengasca said. “This engagement helps our MSMEs prevent cargo damage, protect their brand reputation, and confidently expand their market reach beyond Mindanao.”
Amz Ortiz, FAST senior manager for commercial support and solutions for MSMEs, led the discussion, covering common packaging types and their uses, and sharing product-specific smart packaging tips for dry goods, fragile items, perishable goods, and irregularly shaped products.
Ortiz also emphasized that cargo insurance serves as a key safeguard against shipping risks such as loss, damage, or mishandling, noting that it helps protect MSMEs’ profits when unexpected incidents occur in transit.
She further stressed that selecting the right logistics partner is as critical as choosing the right packaging materials, encouraging MSMEs to work with providers like FAST that offer cargo insurance and have extensive experience handling and transporting various types of goods. Such experience, she added, helps protect product quality and integrity from pickup to delivery.
“That peace of mind allows entrepreneurs to ship more confidently, accept bigger orders, and stay focused on growing their business,” she said.
FAST provides end-to-end, integrated supply chain solutions to businesses of all sizes — including MSMEs — across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. With over 50 years of industry leadership, FAST is the trusted partner of multinational companies, major conglomerates, international startups, and Filipino entrepreneurs, offering multimodal transport, warehousing, cross-docking, cold chain services, and toll manufacturing.
The engagement follows an earlier collaboration between FAST and the DTI Davao City Field Office through a roundtable discussion with MSMEs last January. During the discussion, some MSMEs raised the need for reliable logistics providers that can offer cost-efficient and dependable solutions to support their growing market expansion efforts.
DTI XI said the initiative supports MSMEs preparing for upcoming trade shows and market activities, including the MTE Araw ng Dabaw on March 11-14 at Abreeza Ayala Mall in Davao City and the Women Strong Network Hybrid Trade Fair on March 12–14 at SM Lanang in Davao City.
